Four inducted into Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame

February 5, 2012

AMSTERDAM - Four more deserving members were inducted into the Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday evening at St. Mary's Institute during the fifth annual Mohawks Hall of Fame Dinner.

Nicholas Enriquez, Joe Hage, Norb Sherbunt, president of the Wasserman Foundation, and Ryan Tatlock were all honored for their achievements on and off the field.

Hage and Tatlock are local inductees who were star athletes at Amsterdam High School.

Article Photos

Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, from left, Ryan Tatlock, Joe Hage, Norb Sherbunt and Nicholas Enriquez display the plaques they received during induction ceremonies at the Amsterdam Mohawks Hall of Fame Dinner Saturday night at St. Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam. (The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis)

Tatlock was good enough to play for the Mohawks after his brilliant career at AHS, where he amassed 20 home runs during his JV and varsity career.

He was part of the Mohawks 2003 and 2004 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship teams having his best year in '03 when he was 7-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

His time at Schenectady County Community College earned him first-team All-America honors as a third baseman when he hit .421 with four home runs, being named player of the year.

Tatlock moved on to play for the College of St. Rose, but injuries shortened his career. That doesn't mean Tatlock has lost his competitive drive, he holds the course record at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course with a 62, including a hole-in-one.

Hage was a football and baseball standout during his time as a Rugged Ram from 1971-74. He was part of the Rams' terrific 1973 and 1974 baseball teams, where they won 39 consecutive games and won back-to-back Section II championships.

He hit .404 as a sophomore, .448 as a junior and .410 as a senior. In 1973, he was named honored as a prep All-American from Coach and Athlete Magazine.

Hage received a full scholarship to Southern Illinois to play football, where he played four years on the gridiron and three seasons on the diamond.

After his time at Southern Illinois, he played professional baseball for three years.

Hage said his induction was a "truly humbling moment."

Enriquez contributed directly to four Mohawks New York Collegiate Baseball League Championships.

He was an assistant coach of the 2003 championship team, took over as head coach in 2004 and led that team to a NYCBL title before moving on to become a top assistant at Dartmouth.

"Without question, those two summers in Amsterdam literally changed my life," Enriquez said during his ceremony. "My first job as an assistant coach I learned that no matter what level baseball, it's the same. Whether its a small school in California or Division-I baseball players."

Enriquez sent key players such as Jason Brooks, Kyle Hunter, Joe Sclafani and Ryan Smith from Dartmouth to Amsterdam to play for the Mohawks during the summer.

During his time as a coach at Dartmouth, Enriquez has coached 20 All-Ivy League first-teamers and the team in 2010 set a school record with 30 wins.

Sherbunt's off the field contributions have gone a long way to contributing to on the field success.

The Wasserman Foundation, which Sherbunt is president of, has contributed to lots of the updated at Shuttleworth Park, including lighting, irrigation, field improvements, fencing, Mohawks uniforms and equipment just name a few.

His contributions don't stop at Shuttleworth, though, he was instrumental in providing Lynch Stadium with lighting upgrades among others.

"The city doesn't have many jewels," Sherbunt said of Amsterdam. "But two that come to mind is our football field, along with our great Amsterdam High School program, and now the wonderful Mohawks organization. Sitting at that park is the next best thing to sitting at Wrigley Field or [Fenway Park]."

Sherbunt, who is battling cancer, is in his 44th year practicing law in Amsterdam.